Kathy Thomas-Beck | McGladrey

McGladrey

Some have friends that are close like a brother. But for Kathy Thomas-Beck, she has the best of both worlds – a brother who is close like a friend.

“In high school, my brother encouraged me to consider the field of accounting, and so I started exploring it as a career at that time. As it turns out my brother was right; there are few professions that give you exposure and access to such a variety of businesses and entrepreneurs. I appreciate the challenges and enjoy being an integral partner to our clients’ success,” she said.

As the Florida market managing partner for McGladrey, Thomas-Beck leads seven offices throughout the state, including Jacksonville, Melbourne, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Naples. As she looks back on her career, she said that being open to new challenges and believing that everyone she comes in contact with has something to offer has furthered her learning and success.

McGladrey currently has more than 350 professionals working in its Florida practice and maintains several thousand client relationships, and is the first choice advisor to middle market companies providing accounting, tax and business consulting services. It has more than 6,500 professionals and associates in 75 offices nationwide and has been serving the Florida marketplace for more than 35 years.

Recently, McGladrey had the opportunity to work with the University of Central Florida on a consulting engagement. Thomas-Beck reflected back to her college days on that same campus, scurrying from class to class with her backpack as she walked up the stairs of the administration building toward the president’s office.

“To think … this is the very place that gave me my start as a professional and now they were seeking our advice and insights; it was an incredible moment about how far your dreams can take you,” she said.

With over 23 years of experience practicing public accounting and servicing clients across industries, Thomas-Beck has managed to excel in a highly competitive, traditionally male-dominated industry. She reflected on her mother being the essence of kindness, thoughtfulness and honesty and said, “She taught me that if I worked hard and treated people fairly that my life would be filled with happiness and success.

“As a woman, I have a strong intuition that allows me to read situations and recognize what is happening beneath the surface. This intuition gives me the instinct to adjust course and respond to situations and opportunities quickly.”